New Seasons, Fresh Ducks & Friendly Competition
September 17, 2019
The beginning of the fall season brings many different reasons to get excited: Football, brisk mornings, bonfires as well as the oh-so-wonderful hunting season. As far as us here at
River Brothers Outfitters, it’s the best time of the year. Deer shed their velvet, local ducks clear
out and make way for the new birds, the fall walleye
bite heats up and last but not least, school starts back up for many students (not really
something we look forward to but it’s necessary for some).
I, myself, went to South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota which just so
happens to be along the path of the Mississippi and Central flyway, and what most may say is
the best waterfowl territory in the world. I met an incredible group of people that all shared the
same passion for the outdoors. We spent countless hours sharing hunting stories from when we
grew up, constantly trying to one up another because that’s how competitive we all were and
still are to this day. I remember throughout my 4 years at SDSU, every duck opener I pulled an
all-nighter (not recommended) because I was so incredibly excited, even more excited than
Christmas morning as a kid. We would start a bonfire, eat marshmallows and hotdogs and wait
for the sun to rise so we could begin the hunt.
I remember every time we got done with a solid duck hunt, the next day in class I would be
sitting next to some friends who were also duck hunters and had hunted the previous day. We
would share stories about how the hunts went and any other highlights. I always felt some
tension when one group did better than the other. The whole passive-aggressive mentality, you
know? I often wondered why it felt like it was a competition between groups of hunters,
probably because I tend to hang around others that have the same kind of passion and
competitive nature as I do. It’s kind of similar to players in the NBA. When they are playing in
the games, they don’t like each other, they want to destroy their opponents. When the game is
over or during the offseason, many of the guys from different teams are best friends (i.e. Lebron
James and Dwyane Wade), which is similar to hunting seasons and non-hunting seasons.
But anyways, back to the point I am trying to get at. Hunting and fishing, or the outdoors in
general, can bring even the most polar opposite personalities together. When someone goes
hunting with a group of people that they do not know, they share a common interest which can
instantly start new friendships, and quite honestly, the hunting and fishing world is just one big
family. I didn’t necessarily like the feeling of competing when it came to harvesting such
beautiful wildlife. We all shared a common goal, the goal of going out into the field with friends,
share some laughs, harvest some meat to put on the grill and create memories to share to our
kids one day. Along the way, creating strong bonds with fellow outdoorsmen that will help keep
our public lands in good shape. I hope everyone has a fun hunting season and as always, SAFETY
FIRST! No duck or deer is more important than risking a person’s life. Shoot straight.
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